Näytetään tekstit, joissa on tunniste season four. Näytä kaikki tekstit
Näytetään tekstit, joissa on tunniste season four. Näytä kaikki tekstit

maanantai 6. syyskuuta 2010

Season Four Episode 18-22

Episode 18: So It's Come To This: Simpsons Clipshow
I guess it's the best possible place to catch a clipshow as a first episode of the day, but still, when you've seen all the things there during last 6 days, it kind of loses the (already limited) effect it has. Still, when it comes to clipshows this one isn't that bad. There's enough new material and most of it is pretty good. There's a few memorable scenes included like the gourge-scene, Marge coming to plant and the Bart as Indiana Jones -scene. It works well enough in it's own right, so I cut it some slack and go as high as 4/10. Not bad for clipshow, but I'm glad we ain't seeing these nowadays. That said, there isn't that much to reminisce about nowadays.

Episode 19: The Front
I really enjoyed this episode. I guess it's not the most appreciated show and it's not even that memorable - I didn't remember any of it until Bart & Lisa started to write the Itchy & Scratchy episode. But it's had tons of funny stuff. I really enjoyed the roomful of writers, clearly recognizable as the Simpsons-writers of the time. There were great jokes and of course finally the "Adventures of Ned Flanders" in the end - another bit that I had forgotten, but which was great in it's absurdity. It's not the strongest plot or anything, but the episode is just too hilarious to give bad rating to. Still, it's worse than much of the season so I really can't go higher than 5/10.

Episode 20: Whacking Day
I don't really care for this episode. Actually felt a little disgusted to watch it again. Probably the weakest of the fourth season, even if that's not saying that much. Plot is a little silly, too silly for my taste, but the laughs save it. The first half of it is pretty good actually. But I just think the concept of whacking day in uninteresting and the way they resolve it is unplausible to say the least. They get away with it because it's filled with good jokes and characterizations are correct, but I like this nowhere as much as general public. 4/10.

Episode 21: Marge in Chains
These recent episodes haven't really been up to standard. This one has a lot of out-of-character stuff and a main plot that doesn't really pay off. I think Apu is completely out-of-character getting Marge into prison for such a minor - and clearly unintentional offense. Then again, we get the satisfaction of seeing Snake stealing the whole Kwik-E-Mart. You really feel for Marge though, it's one of the positive things in episode, and there's also some funny (and disturbing) stuff in the episode. I mean in space of two episodes we've had the questionable pleasure of seeing Grampa, Bart and Homer all dressed up as women. It's another episode where being funny saves it, but overall the plot is a bit contrived and "just there".. Another 4/10.

Episode 22: Krusty Gets Kancelled
It's the fourth season finale and quest stars galore. It's a decent episode again, even if it feels a little flat for a finale of such great season. There's something I can't really put my finger on though that make me not like that much. Perhaps it's a bit too wacky, or it's the quest stars taking over. It's starts off well with that Gabbo bit and then there's that crazy Worker & Parasite cartoon. There's plenty of smaller bits that are also funny and some that are just memorable, like Krusty singing in his special comeback-episode. That said, it doesn't live up to the standard of rest of the season. 5/10.

Season Four.. Great season, which slows down significantly towards the end. That turns out to be costly as it barely loses out to Season Three after having an average of 6,18. It's so close though that they're really interchangable. Golden era well and truly underway. We'll see if it gets any better from this, I don't know if it's possible.

So the top-list look like this:
Season Three 6.21
Season Four 6.18
Season Two 5.55
Season One 4.69

Season Four Episodes 13-17

Episode 13: Selma's Choice
Pretty funny episode. Plot was well-constructed and everything worked. I can't think of any flaws.. There were some a little slow moments, but not much to complain. Plenty of great moments like Lisa hallucinating and the date with Moleman. I kind of hate doing these listings because I always forget something great and have to keep coming back to mention something. But yeah, all-around well-made episode, it's a 6/10.

Episode 14: Brother from Same Planet
The Simpsons house looks odd in the beginning, where exactly is Homer watching the tv? Those are minor issues, but that's where the flaws are, if any. This is another excellent episode with lots of laughs and some good emotion. There's Bart's vision of Homer playing blackjack, Ren & Stimpy cartoon, the Shining -reference with Milhouse and Psycho-reference with Skinner, just to name a few good points. A-plot was pretty solid, but b-plot.. I don't know, it just bothered me. I just feel Lisa would see some Corey-hotlines for what they are. Once you get addicted though, I understand that she would have trouble getting off it. I'm having separation anxiety whenever I'm not watching Simpsons at the moment, though it's manageable, unlike in the first run when it depressed me. That said, it's 5/10 for this one.

Episode 15: I Love Lisa
This is actually mostly new stuff for me. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I accidentally skipped this in the spring when viewing these episodes and I don't remember seeing it earlier. I tried to watch it later but there is some psychological thing that prevented me to watch it out of order. At least during the first run. So I watched only the first act or so. But anyway, it's a great episode. Ralph has not yet been flanderized to the doofus kid he is nowadays who is only spouting one-liners and stuff. In this he still realistically stupid, something a real kid could be - in fact he reminds me of one boy I used to know in the elementary school.. I'm rambling. So anyway, he is in top form this episode, but it does feel a little odd considering the Ralph of nowadays. Lisa is great as usual and there's some good jokes in it. Well-built plot, plenty of emotion, it's all good, 7/10.

Episode 16: Duffless
Classic episode. Good jokes and great emotion. The ending worked well too, one of those memorable ones that stick in your head despite the overload of Simpsons-episodes. One of those episodes that comes up again and again in top lists of people. Both plots were gold, characterizations were perfect and they just kept pounding you with funny jokes. Hilarity didn't impair the emotional effect it had and it was pleasing to see Homer not drinking - though it doesn't change the status quo after all, but it doesn't matter. One of those episodes that you'll never forget. 8/10. On a lighter note, who wouldn't have thrown that huge tomato at Skinner's ass? Lisa shouldn't have been too angry..

Episode 17: Last Exit to Springfield
Another one of those recurring episodes in top lists. Truly a classic with great plot and plenty of hilarious jokes. There's kind of a b-plot with Lisa's braces, but it's tightly tied with main plot and that is not really explored that much except with the school photo -scene. That said it doesn't really call for it, as main plot has plenty of stuff to use. Homer is in his top form. If there's anything to moan I'd say that I was a a bit bothered with the fact that Lisa is playing guitar and singing in their strike. However I can completely overlook it, because the reason's are obvious - Yeardley Smith's voice is just awesome and it's a pleasure to listen her singing. Great stuff, 8/10.

sunnuntai 5. syyskuuta 2010

Season Four Episodes 7-12

Episode 7: Marge Gets a Job
A fun little episode that is probably lucky to be the first of the day. I don't think there's anything really bad about this episode, but it isn't as good as those that I watched at the end of yesterday. Good solid plotline with an okay characterizations and funny jokes. I especially liked when Bart moaned about his ovaries. Main plot was okay and it had the average amount of laughs. The sideplot managed to be predictable and surprising at the same time - you knew that something bad was going to happen to Bart, but you didn't expect it to be exactly wolf attacking him. We got to admire Willy's physique again.. Decent episode, 5/10.

Episode 8: New Kid on the Block
I don't really care too much about Conan O'Brien, and this was the first episode where he got the writing credit. I gotta admit that he did a good job on the Simpsons though, but his style of humor shows and all of it doesn't work on me. That said, this episode had some good jokes, especially Homer trying to talk about women to Bart. It's first Bart gets a girfriend (sort of) storyline also. I don't there's anything that special about the story - they get a few laughs of it and in the b-plot the Sea Captain is introduced. I used to like him, but nowadays I am a little bored of him. Laura was a good side-character, it's a shame that she didn't become regular (After all, she did move right next door). I guess it all amounts to 5/10 rating. Good, but not great.

Episode 9: Mr. Plow
This is again an episode which is considered a classic but I don't rate it that highly. Yeah, it has bunch of great jokes, but on the top of that there isn't really that much. It deserves a mention among the top, but like I said it doesn't get top of my list, but if I gotta raise something to closer examining, it's the second mr. Plow commercial, which is hilarious in it's absurdity. There's too many good jokes to list, and the plot was good. I'm struggling to explain why I don't rate it as highly as other people do, but it just seemed missing something and then again there's the matter of almost 20 years in between it's making and me watching it. I have not seen this originally so it doesn't have any nostalgic value for me. It's memorable and fun episode, but nothing else, 7/10.

Episode 10: Lisa's First Word
This episode is just overflowing with sweet emotion and it manages to be funny at the same time. They manage to put some new swing on the old jealousy over new kid -plot. The ending is kind of predictable, but it doesn't make it any less sweet. Also the kids calling Homer "Homer" is a great joke and it set-ups the very ending with Maggie, which was very sweet, although I admit a little sappy. Bunch of great jokes and nostalgia in this one, but a few slow moments drop it "way down" to 8/10. Lisa is especially cute on this one, even when she is bald.

Episode 11: Homer's Triple Bypass
This concentration of emotion inside a two episodes was probably what got me hooked during the first run. Another emotional episode in a row.. I'd say it was lower on laughs than the previous episode, but it just might be as funny. There's really serious atmosphere and it gets really tense when we wait for the results of Homer's operations - even if we now that the show has went on for nearly 20 years after that episode. That takes some skill to pull off. Another 8/10 clearly, these are the episodes that make you love Simpsons. Funnies moment for me was Barney thinking that Homer's going to have sex change.. Yeah I guess I like low-brow humor. There's lots of other fun stuff too, that was just an example. Oh and who wouldn't love that COPS-reference, especially the Bad Cops -song?

I'll do one more, and then that's it. I'll come back today obviously, but no more in a row.

Episode 12: Marge vs. Monorail
To be honest.. I don't get why this is so appreciated. It's another solid episode, I give it that, but it isn't the funniest, it doesn't have that much emotion and plot has some parts that bother me. It's funny alright, but Simpsons have many better episodes in that department. The song is of course nice and makes this episode very memorable, but that's pretty much it. Well I gotta praise the Flintstones parody at the beginning as well. Leonard Nimoy makes a pretty good appearance as well. That said, "only" 6/10 for this one. What bothered me? Well I wasn't satisfied with the way Lynley was dealt with - the plane just happened to land in North Havenbrook and the people somehow knew he was on it? I guess these just aren't my kind of episodes. But like I said, it's not bad, it's really good, just not as good as people think of it.

That was pretty stellar six episodes. I'll be back.

Season Four Episode 1-4

Episode 1: Kamp Krusty
We start off with an absolute classic. The opening scene in this is one of the best scenes ever. It might be the best moment of the episode also, but that said the rest of the episode isn't that bad. There's some cheap writing like Bart getting to go anyway despite having poor marks, but it's acceptable I guess.. I'll let them get away with it at least. Kamp bit was very grim in a sense, but the biggest flaw was probably the animation, which was for some reason off for this episode. Other than that the wasn't any flaws. Those flaws drop it to 6/10 anyway. Best moments were class, but the rest brought it a bit downwards.

Episode 2: Streetcar Named Marge
I didn't really care for this episode in the first viewing. I guess it was the musical part taking so much time, or I don't know. But it felt a lot better on this viewing. It still isn't among my favorites, but I enjoyed it. I even enjoyed the musical scenes. One thing didn't change - the Maggie subplot was still excellent. I guess not knowing the didn't help me on enjoying this episode, but still, I agree with people that it's a great episode and I'm willing to give it as high as 6/10. Not my personal favorites, but I can clearly see why this is considered a classic.

Episode 3: Homer the Heretic
Some people consider this the greatest episode ever and while I think it's a good episode, I don't see what all the fuss is about. It's memorable, I give it that, but I don't really care too much for God-episodes - though Homer's interactions with God were good stuff. I guess I suck when I'm not getting it's greatness. It has good humor, but I don't like how Homer is pushed towards the churchgoing and all, even if it is made in satirizing manner. But everything else of course is good stuff. The best bits of humor are Homer's talk about the long-haired guy and how he bounces back in from the mattress after the fire. But yeah, overall I'm not getting it. I tried viewing the R&R thread in nohomers.net but even it didn't manage to convince as most posts were pretty much "perfect episode 5/5 no arguments". I guess it's the combination of different culture and not being a christian, so I don't care for religious plot-lines this episode relies heavily.

But yeah, I've blabbered on long enough. It's 7/10. Well-made episode with pretty much no flaws, but the theme puts me off a bit. Let's continue.

Episode 4: Lisa the Beauty Queen
I don't kind of like the idea of Lisa as a beauty queen even if it is established that she is pretty, but this episode works really well. There's plenty of good jokes and emotion and pretty much no flaws. I love Homer & Lisa bonding in this and also like Barts interactions with Lisa in this one, like "you're not ugly." I guess that works better in the context of the episode, heh. Though it was kinda disturbing how much Bart knew about beauty contests and how well he walked with high heels.. Also the Lisa singing at the contest went so much overboard that I didn't know whether it was hysterical or fucked up. I guess it was a bit of both. Still an excellent episode, 7/10.

Two more episodes, come on, I can do it.

Episode 5: Treehouse of Horror III
Another solid Treehouse of Horror. Again there were no standouts, just three solid segments. I didn't like the second one as much as first and third, but it had it's moments too. It's good enough to be some people's favorite so there's really nothing wrong with it. There's some disturbing stuff also (in a good way) like those faces in the book. I think THOH's should be scary at least on some level and this fulfilled this need. Still, it's not significantly worse or better than the two first THOH's, so it gets 7/10. I view the other two a bit better despite the funny stuff like Snail-Lisa and other good visuals. Still, there's no clear difference.

Now were tied with the record. I'm exhausted, but one more for a new record.

Episode 6: Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie
Thank god. It's hard to get excited after 26 episodes, but this episode was certainly enough to keep me entertained. However, I found Bart's characterization.. stretched. I guess it's in-character but he is just a tad too stupid and destructive for my taste. It makes for some good jokes though. There's great historical bits from Itchy & Scratchy, the stripper scene and finally the future scene to remember. Also Maggie driving a car shouldn't be forgotten, that was one hilarious scene. Fine humor packaged in well-intentioned and plotted episode, it's another 7/10.

It took me a whole day - and to keep my promise of breaking the record four times I have to do it again next week. Pretty insane stuff. But that's me alright.

On a completely unrelated note, great way to make you lower body stiff is to squat heavy the previous day you sit on the computer all day. I'm fucked up, I'm going to bed and hopefully have a dream about the Simpsons. Wait a minute..